There are a lot of street performers in Tartu, and I am lucky enough to listen to talented clarinet and accordion players when I walk to work. I even found a small band that was playing near the town square. I often go out to eat in pubs and restaurants with my friends, where I listen to pop music played by a D.J. or on the radio. The best music I heard this week was from an Estonian production of the musical Les Miserables, which I went to see in the local Vanemuine Theater during the weekend. It was funny hearing classic lyrics being sung in Estonian rather than in English!
My favorite activity this week was having peppermint tea with my landlady; we talked for two hours about the Estonian healthcare system since she is pregnant with her third son. I learned so much about how Estonia is a model for maternity leave. Maternity leave in Estonia lasts for 140 days and covers 100% of earnings with no ceiling. Fathers and mothers can choose to split the leave, while women can also opt to take 30-70 days off (fully paid) to prepare before the birth of the child. The government provides a lot of support for expectant mothers because for a long time the Estonian birth rate and therefore population was in decline.
In addition to my research on e-government, I spent a lot of time reading on my Kindle. I visited two Estonian second-hand book stores with small English language sections, and I bought three books by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby.
